Antenna stand



July 1, 1969 A M. T. REED 3,452,956

ANTENNA STAND Filed June 15, 1967 Marvin T Reed United States PatentOffice Patented July 1, 1969 3,452,956 ANTENNA STAND Marvin T. Reed,7030 SE. 118th Drive, Portland, Oreg. 97266 Filed June 15, 1967, Ser.No. 646,344 Int. Cl. A47b 96/14, 97/06 US. Cl. 248-237 4 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an antenna stand. Wheninstalling an antenna, such as is used for television or radioreception, it is often expedient to mount the antenna on top of thebuilding which houses the television or radio receiver. The antenna isusually mounted on a stand, and the stand is secured to the roof of thebuilding. Since roof lines of different buildings vary considerably, anantenna stand, to be practical, should be adapted to be mounted simplyand securely on widely differing supporting planes and combinations ofplanes. Further, the antenna stand when mounted on a roof should providethe stability to withstand extreme environmental conditions, preferablywithout having to include guy lines or other forms of auxiliary support.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved antennastand, which is readily adapted for mounting on differently shapedsupporting structures.

A further object is to provide such an antenna stand, which provides astable mounting for an antenna when mounted in operative position.

A related object is the provision, in such an antenna stand, of a rigidelongated strut connected at one of its ends through lockable pivotmeans to an upright mast, at a point intermediate the ends of the mast.The pivot means allows the strut to be positioned at different angularpositions relative to the mast, and then locked in a selected positionrelative to the mast. Strut positioning may be accomplished withoutbending or otherwise deforming the strut.

The invention also features, in such an antenna stand, an elongatedrigid crosspiece secured to the base of the mast extending generallynormal to the mast. Projecting from the ends of this crosspiece and thebase of the strut are attaching pads used in securing the stand to astructure. While the strut and crosspiece are preferably quite stiff, toobtain rigidity, the attaching pads are relatively easily deformed, toenable them to be shaped best to conform to the structure upon which thestand is mounted. With the provision of such attaching pads, the strutand crosspiece need not be bent when installing the stand, anotherfactor permitting the use of rigid stock as the strut and crosspieceelements.

Other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent as thefollowing description is read in conjunction with the followingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, illustrating anantenna stand constructedaccording to an embodiment of the invention mounted on a sloping roofstructure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1,illustrating a pivotal connection provided between an upright mast and asupport strut in the stand; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken generally along the line 3-3 inFIG. 1 illustrating a deformed attaching pad secured by a nail to theroof structure.

Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIG. 1, at 8 isindicated a portion of a sloping roof. A stand for mounting an antenna,constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, isindicated generally at 10.

In broad terms, the stand comprises an upright mast 12, an elongatedcrosspiece or crosspiece member 14 rigidly secured to the base of andextending normal to the mast, and a rigid elongated strut or strutmember 16. Pivot means 18 pivotally connects the struts upper end to themast, and an attaching pad 20 is secured to each end of the crosspieceand to the nonpivoted end of the strut.

Mast 12 is an elongated, rigid tube, preferably of metal stock which, inoperative position, may project vertically upwardly from the roof orother structure upon which the stand is mounted. An antenna (not shown)to be supported by the stand is secured to the masts upper end (in FIG.1, the mast has been shown broken away and shortened somewhat from thelength it normally has, in order to conserve space).

Crosspiece 14 is a rigid, elongated tube, also preferably of metal stockwhich may have the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of mast 12.The mast is joined to the crosspiece at a point midway between thecrosspieces ends. The mast and crosspiece are securely joined, as bywelding them together, to form a rigid, inverted T-shaped structure.

Strut 16 is also an elongated, rigid tube, preferably of metal. As isbest seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper end of this tube is flattened.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that pivot means 18secures strut 16 to the mast at a point located somewhat above thecrosspiece. The pivot means shown comprises a clip 24 whichsubstantially encircles the mast, and terminates in a pair of parallelspaced-apart ears 26 which project laterally from the mast. The clip issecured in its position as by welding it to the mast. The flattened endof strut 16 is received between ears 26, and a screw, or element, 30extending through aligned accommodating bores in ears 26 and theflattened strut end serves to hold the strut end between the ears.Screwed onto the threaded end of screw 30 is a wing nut 32.

The screw provides a pivot axis for strut 16 which generally parallelscrosspiece 14. With loosening of wing nut 32, strut 16 may be swungabout this axis to place it at different angular positions relative tothe mast. The screw and wing nut function as adjustable locking means inthe organization for locking the strut in any selected position relativeto the mast, since with tightening of the wing nut, ears 26 clampagainst opposite sides of the flattened end of the strut to producetight frictional contact locking the strut against the pivotal movement.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, attaching pads 20 comprise metal stripssecured, as by welding, to the ends of the crosspiece and to the bottomend of the strut. The pads include portions 20a projectinglongitudinally outwardly from the members to which the pads are secured.As is best seen in FIG. 3, each of the strips associated with thecrosspiece is secured with one of its flat sides directly against theunderside of the crosspiece. The strip for strut 16 is similarly joinedto the underside of the strut. Each strip has a minor cross-sectionalarea in comparison to the cross-sectional area of the member whichmounts the strip. In comparison with the strut and cross- Holes orapertures 36 extend through the attaching pads, in projecting portions20a of the pads. These are provided to receive nails 34 or otherfasteners used in securing the stand in place.

Describing how the stand may be mounted on a supporting structure, wingnut 32 may be loosened on screw 30 to permit adjusting of the strut.Crosspiece 14 ordinarily is placed in a substantially horizontalposition with the mast projecting vertically upwardly. On a slopingsurface such as a sloping roof, strut 16 may be placed either on theuphill or downhill side of the crosspiece, with the strut swung relativeto the mast to bring the struts base against the roof. The attachingpads connected to the ends of the crosspiece are twisted to the extentrequired to place portions 20a flush with the roof. Transverse bendingof the pad for strut 16 places its projecting portion 20a flush with theroof. The pads may then be fastened in place and wing nut 32 tightenedto produce a rigid mounted assembly. With other types of supportingstructures, including structures where multiple support planes arepresented, suitable placement of the strut and bending of the padsordinarily will result in a rigid installation.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described, modificationsand variations are possible without departing from the invention and itis desired to cover all such variations as would be apparent to oneskilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A stand for mounting an antenna on variously configured supportingsurfaces comprising, in operative position, an upright rigid mast, anelongated rigid crosspiece member rigidly secured to the base of saidmast with the crosspiece member extending normal to the mast, a rigidelongated strut member extending at an angle relative to said mast withone end adjacent the mast and an opposite end spaced from the mast;pivot means pivotally connecting said one end of said strut member tosaid mast at a point above and spaced from said crosspiece member; saidpivot means comprising an element providing a pivot axis for said strutmember which substantially parallels said crosspiece member, andadjustable locking means for locking said strut member in differentangular positions relative to said mast; and an attaching pad secured tothe opposite end of said strut member and each end of said crosspiecemember; each of said attaching pads having a projecting portionprojecting from the end of the member to which the attaching pad issecured which is relatively easily deformed in comparison to the memberto which the pad is secured and which is employed in securing the standto supporting surfaces.

2. The stand of claim 1, wherein the pivot means comprises an earsecured to said mast which projects laterally from the mast, saidelement passes through said ear and said strut member, and saidadjustable locking means comprises a tightenable fastener mounted onsaid element which may be tightened on said element to press said earand the strut member into tight frictional contact with each other.

3. The stand of claim 1, wherein said crosspiece and strut members areof cylindrical metal stock, and the pads secured to said opposite end ofsaid strut member and the ends of said crosspiece members comprisedeformable metal strips having minor cross-sectional areas in comparisonto the cross-sectional areas of said strut and crosspiece members towhich they are attached, enabling the pads easily to be bent to conformto a supporting surface.

4. The stand of claim 1, wherein the crosspiece member is secured to themast at a point of joinder with the mast located substantially midwaybetween the ends of the crosspiece member, and the only connection ofthe mast and crosspiece member is at said point of joinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,597,733 5/1952 Jackson 248432,616,571 11/1952 Griffin 211-171 2,891,748 6/1959 Winegard 248-46 ROYD. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

